Annual Conference sessions
Browse all conference sessions since 2010
Science ♥ society
2019
"The blob: a genius without a brain".
2019
"Mathematics as Material Play"
Equity & Inclusion
2019
A blindfolded experience to grasp visual accessibility requirements.
Business & fundraising
2019
The session explores different models for financing our institutions and tackling the biggest challenges we face in the search for a diversified and balanced model.
Strategy & vision
2019
The Supreme Court of the Ecsite Conference will decide whether virtual reality (VR) in museums and science centres is visceral reality providing vital reactions, or just virtually rudimentary and very rubbish.
Research, theory & evaluation
2018
James Beacham is a particle physicist involved in the ATLAS experiment at CERN. Watch a video of his keynote.
Science ♥ society
2018
“Go forth and collide, Multiply and create” is the motto of our Science Assembly. Inspired by religious revival meetings, we will offer you songs, laughter, inspiration, and meaning.
Exhibit development
2018
Are you facilitating creative team processes? Tired of always using the same old tricks? Interested in the wider potential of creative techniques? This session is for you.
Strategy & vision
2018
What is the future of science centre exhibitions? Do we need to stick to scientific phenomena, or focus on high tech and current science? Do we concentrate on objects or interaction? Or are physical exhibitions becoming obsolete in the digital era?
Research, theory & evaluation
2017
Professor Alice Roberts is an anthropologist, author and broadcaster, and Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham. Watch a video of her keynote.
Science ♥ society
2017
Nina Simon has been described as a “museum visionary” by Smithsonian Magazine for her audience-centred approach to design. Watch a video of her keynote.
Research, theory & evaluation
2016
Dr. Frans de Waal is a Dutch-American biologist and primatologist known for his work on the behaviour and social cognition of primates. Speech title: Prosocial Primates: The Cooperative Background of Our Species
Equity & Inclusion
2016
Dr. Elizabeth Rasekoala is the President of African Gong – the Pan-African Network for the Popularisation of Science & Technology, and Science Communication. Watch a video of her keynote.
2015
Andrea Illy is the Chairman and CEO of illycaffè S.p.A., a family coffee business founded more than 80 years ago. Watch his speech on Ecsite's YouTube channel.
Strategy & vision
2014
Professor Ian Goldin is Director of the Oxford Martin School and Professor of Globalisation and Development at Oxford University. He delivered a speech entitled "Individual and Collective Wisdom and Failure".
Science ♥ society
2014
Ahmet Üzümcü is the Director general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The OPCW is the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2013.
Strategy & vision
2013
Dominique Pestre is a social and political historian.Hos speech was entitled "What kind of innovation for the Anthropocene?". Watch the keynote on the Ecsite YouTube channel.
Strategy & vision
2013
Susan Greenfield is a neuroscientist at the University of Oxford and delivered a speech entitled “ The neuroscience of creativity – Making the most of 21st century technology”. Watch the keynote on the Ecsite YouTube channel.
Strategy & vision
2012
Martin Rees, Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge, gave a speech entitled "Space exploration, life and the cosmos".
Strategy & vision
2012
Carlo Ratti, Professor at the MIT, gave a talk entitled "Future Cities - The real-time city is now real!"
Science ♥ society
2011
Derrick de Kerckhove, Professor at the Department of French and former Director of the McLuhan Program in Culture and Technology at the University of Toronto, gave a speech entitled "Navigating among the shoals and reefs of social, state and business controls in science and technology".
Strategy & vision
2011
Michael Jones Chief Technology Advocate, Google, gave a speech entitled "The Billionth Visitor".
The first Ecsite Conference took place in 1989. Here you can browse all Conference sessions since 2010. Use the search engine to look for people, topics...
Looking for an older session? Our digital records start in 2007, with programme pdfs attached to each conference page.
Julia WoitheTania JohnstonAnne LandHanne TytgatFreddy GripWolfgang VieserJulia Woithe
Many science centres and out-of-school learning labs offer hands-on workshops for (high-school) students in addition to their interactive exhibitions.
A common challenge is to find the right balance between open inquiry and "cookbook" type...
Daniela De AngeliRan Peleg
The GameLab is an informal space run by an international team of game developers. With experience of many forms of game making from real world live action to virtual reality they invite you to drop in and explore how games and play can be used in...
Sharon AmentBronwyn BevanMarjolein van BreemenMichael BradkeVesselina DimitrovaMichèle ANTOINE
“Go forth and collide, Multiply and create” is the motto of our Science Assembly. Inspired by religious revival meetings, we will offer you songs, laughter, inspiration, and meaning. As a theme we will focus on the history, importance and meaning...
Pre-booking information coming soon.
At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. They use the world's largest and most complex...
Henrik SellCarole PalecoThomas B BergYuri MattemanMichelle PriceAndré AbreuStefaan Blancke
Science centres and natural history museums are increasingly involved in debates between natural sciences and more belief-driven views. In this whole-day pre-conference workshop we will unpin this issue and explore possible routes for the future...
Sharon AmentMichèle ANTOINEGretchen BakerAnn Follin
If we had known what we nowknow…the importance of owning and trusting your own power, the importance of taking risks and seizing challenging opportunities, the value of feeling okay with navigating your way through societal and institutional...
The Ecsite MakerSpace is a physical location at the conference centre curated by a group of tinkerers and educators from all over the world. In this inspiring environment full of tools, materials and demonstrations, we’ll present hands-on...
Suzana Filipecki MartinsCarlos Catalao AlvesFrank KupperCarmen Fenollosailse MarschalekDobrivoje Lale EricLeonardo AlfonsiAnnette Klinkert
The Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) approach has been fostered and supported by the European Commission for the past 10 years, creating a community of knowledge and practice that is still in the precious phase of "an organic soup". As...
Marjelle van HoornJochen HungerJoanna Kalinowska
Why books? Books start revolutions, free minds, open doors and sometimes they just contain good recipes. Let's look closer at their value for us and our work.
In the most informal setting (powerpoints, keep out!) we imagine you, advocates...
Joanna KalinowskaRobert FirmhoferHerbert MuenderLynn ScarffLAURENT CHICOINEAU
Catalysing the support of science and technology-driven socio-economic development is inscribed in the mission of science engagement organisations. However, even though technology undeniably improves and benefits all aspects of our lives, there...
Research, theory & evaluation
James Beacham is a particle physicist involved in the ATLAS experiment at CERN. Watch a video of his keynote.
As a member of the ATLAS collaboration, one of the teams that discovered...
Research, theory & evaluation
Jen DeWittUwe MoldrzykMaria XanthoudakiIan BrunswickBarbara StreicherDean Veall
The concept of science capital has gained increasing attention in both formal and informal science institutions in recent years, as a potentially useful way of thinking about our audiences. To date, most of this work has focused on school pupils...
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